Suspension for tackling dummies



April 12,1949. G. KING SUSPENSION FOR TACKLING DUMMIES Filed Sept. 5, 1947 I i I L lemwv 2 #1 liar/l2 Fatented Apr. 12, 1949 SUSPENSION FOR TACKLINGDUMM'IES GrantKing, Hamilton; Ohio Application September 5, 1941, Serial, No.. 772,395

7 Claims. 1:

This invention relates to a suspension for a tackle bag and more particularly to a shock' release mechanism for main suspending-the bag from a movable support.

It is common practice in training football playersto use a tackle bag or dummy suspended from a support but when using a conventionally suspended bag for tackling, the players are not called upon to tackle under actual conditions-and furthermore it is diflicult to determine how effective the tackling of a given player is in comparison with that of another player; This difficulty in, gauging a pl-ayers'tackling ability when using a conventionally suspended tackle bag handicaps the coach in training his men to tackle effectively with the required force. It is an object of this invention to provide an arrangement for suspending a tackle bag in such a manner that the players are required tomake tackles more nearly under normalplaying conditions and. in such a manner that the bag is released from its support in response to a predetermined impact or shock.

A further object of this invention is to provide a shock release mechanism which includes means for adjusting the amount of shock required to eilect a release.

Another object of this invention is to provide a durable and inexpensive release mechanism.

Still another object of this invention is, to provide an improved arrangement for fastening the tackle, bag; to the bag supporting structure in such a manner that it is possible to remove or replace parts of the dummy mechanism withthe minimum amount of effort and, expense.

Another object of, this invention is to provide an improved arrangement for swingably supporting the tackling dummy so asto cause the-dummy to swing from side to side while moving inv a given direction so as to simulate the movement ofa football player running-down on the football field.

Further objects and. advantages of the present invention reside in the construction and combination of parts and inthe mode of operation as'will be apparent from the following description, ref:- erence being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing the construction of the bag and the shock release mechanism;

Figure 2 is an elevational viewshowing, the tackle bag separated, from the suspending'mechamsm,

Figured schematically shows the tackle bag and the supportingpstructure formovably supportingv the. bag;

Figure 4' is an end ,view of the. clutch elements form a part of the release mechanism; and

Figure 5 is a side view of. the same clutch el'ementsshown in Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings wherein I have shown a preferred mbodiment'ofmy invention, reference numeral lildesignates generally a tackle bag or dummy which is adapted to'be mova-hly supported: from a 'track'iZ' (see Figure 3) suspended between suitable supports M. A carriage mechanism i6 is supported to; move along th track 12 and is adaptedv to serve as a means for suspending the; tackle bag It in a manner to, be described more fully hereinafter. Thecarriageit" may be of the type which includes "a motoriorpropelling the carriage from one end of the track: to the other much like a traveling crane, or it may be of th type which may be manually movedifrom one endof the track to the other.

The release ,mechamsmrused" in suspending the bag" it from the carriage lt 'comprises. a main supporting element" 20 which is swingably supported from the, carriage It by means of the swivel'element'fi which is a standard swivel unit and needs no further description. The element 26 i's'flared outwardly towards its lower end so as to provide a tapered cam surface 22 which cooperates with the'ball or detent el'ements'z l which form'a, part of the clutch or cam elements 2*6. For purposes of, illustration, 1" have shown three similarly constructed clutch elements (see Figures 4' and 5) which are arranged to surroundthe member 261 in a manner and for a-purpose to. be described more: fuily hereinafter. While I have shown three clutch elements, it is obvious thatthe number'of clutch elements usedmay-be varied although ,I, have found' that there is an advantage in using three clutch segments arranged as; shown in Figures 4' and 5; Each clutch element; is provided" with a hall; socket 23 within which a ball or detent 2'4" is mounted. The extreme, outer end of each socket has a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the ball so as to prevent" the ball from falling out. The inner surface of each ball is adapted torsl'ifde' along the cam surface 22 provided on the, membenZUf and the outer. portion of' each ball'is adaptedito releasabl'y engage within the circumferential. groove tlliprmed, in the socket, member 32' which forms a part of the tackle bag assembly, andserves. as a keeper for th detent balls 24 so as to hold the bag properly suspended on the support 20 in a given position of the clutch elements, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

As best shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, a coil spring 34 surrounds the clutch elements 26 and has its ends arranged in engagement with the washer elements 36 and 38 which butt against the shoulders 40 and 42 respectively of the clutch elements. The spring 34 not only assists in holding the clutch elements in assembled relationship but also plays a part in the release of the bag in a manner to be explained more fully hereinafter. A spring 44 biases the clutch elements 26 downwardly on the member 20. A pair of washer elements 46 are provided between the lower end of the spring 44 and the upper ends of the clutch elements 26 as best shown in Figure 1. In order to provide means for adjusting the force with which the spring 44 biases the clutch elements 26 downwardly, I have provided a nut 50 which is threaded to the member .20 so as to provide for the necessary adjustments of the spring 44. By adjusting the nut Eli, it is possible to vary the amount of shock required for releasing the bag and .its associated parts from the supporting member 20.

By virtue of the above described construction and arrangement of elements, it is apparent that a gradual downward pull on the bag merely serves to increase the force with which the balls 24 engage within the channel 30 and consequently efiectively prevents removal of the bag from its support in response to an ordinary pull. However, the parts are so arranged that a sudden impact or shock imparted to the bag serves to disarrang the clutch elements 38 and the balls 24 in such a manner that the bag It together with the socket 32 may be detached from the supporting mechanism. It will be noted that the three balls are normally uniformly spaced circumferentially relative to the axis of the member 20 as well as the axis of the bag It) and that when the bag is given a hard blow or shock the clutch elements 26 are free to shift both circumferentially and longitudinally relative to the cam surface 22 so that if the shock is great enough or quick enough, the bag becomes released before the springs 34 and 44 have time to force the parts back into the bag retaining position.

The spring 44 biases the clutch elements 26 downwardly in such a manner that the balls 24 are forced outwardly into engagement with the channel 30 provided in the socket 32 so as to prevent release of the bag assembly from th supporting mechanism when a straight and relatively slow pull is exterted on the bag. However, a sudden impact or jolt on the bag causes the axis of the bag to move out of alignment with th axis of the member 29 and this too facilitates release of the bag. In making an effective tackle, the tackler normally strikes the bag with a hard blow and causes the bag to be lifted slightly with the result that the relative position of the socket 32, the clutch elements 25 and the balls 24 becomes such that the bag is readily released so that the player tackling the bag can carry the bag away with him. The tighter the spring 44 is, the greater becomes the force required for releasing the bag from its support. Consequently, it is possible to adjust the amount of shock or impact required to release the bag.

It will be noted that as the bag assembly including the socket member 32 is pushed upwardly, the clutch elements 26 are pushed upwardly, whereby the balls 24 move toward the 4 smaller portion of the cam 20. In this relative position of the parts, the balls clear the groove or channel at in the socket 32 so that a quick pull on the bag serves to disconnect the bag from its support. After the bag has been removed from its support, it may be replaced very quickly merely by raising the bag upwardly until the socket element 32 slips onto the lower end of the support. In efifect, the balls 24 serve as detents for releasably holding the bag in place on the support. As pointed out hereinabove, the nut 58 serves to vary the force with which the balls or detents 24 engage within the channel 30.

In order to avoid injury to the players, I have provided pneumatic means 58 resembling a small automobile or wheelbarrow tire which is arranged as shown so as to surround the element 32. The outer covering 60 for the bag may be made of canvas or any other suitable material and is adapted to be removably supported from the supporting ring 62 carried by the socket element 32 by means of a zipper mechanism 64. Th bag til may be filled with sawdust or any other materials commonly used in the manufacture of tackling bags.

By virtue of the above described arrangement, it is apparent that the eifectiveness of the players tackling ability may be improved and that the effectiveness of the tackles may be gauged very closely since ineffective tackles result in the bag remaining on the support.

After the bag has been removed, it is easy to replace it merely by lifting upwardly on the bag so as to cause the upper surface of the socket element 32 to shove against the cam elements 22 as to cause the cam elements to move upwardly relative to the element 2!! until the distance between the inner surface of the socket opening and the adjacent portion of the cam surface 22 is less than the diameter of the balls 24 at which time the balls 24 will snap into the groove 3t and will hold the bag in place until the bag is again given a shock or blow so as to cause release of the bag.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A tackle bag mechanism comprising in combination, a support, a tackle bag assembly, means for attaching said bag assembly to said support, said bag assembly comprising a hub having a bag supporting ring filler material including a pneumatic tire carried by said hub and having an outer circumference substantially equal to the outer circumference of the main body portion of said bag assembly, a fabric bag enclosing said tire and filler material, and means for attaching said fabric bag to said bag supporting ring.

2. In combination, a support, a tackle bag, means for suspending said tackle bag from said support, said last named means comprising an elongated cam member having an outwardly flared end portion forming a cam surface, and circumferentially spaced radially movable clutch elements slidably supported on said elongated cam member, said clutch elements including portions movable radially outwardly in response to longitudinal movement of said clutch elements on said elongated cam member, said tackle bag including means engageable by said clutch elements in a predetermined relative position of said clutch elements and said elongated member.

3. In combination, a support, a tackle bag, means for suspending said tackle bag from said support, said last named means comprising an elongated cam member having an outwardly flared end portion forming a cam surface, and

.circumferentially spaced radially movable clutch elements slidably supported on said elongated cam member, said clutch elements including portions movable radially outwardly in response to longitudinal movement of said clutch elements on said elongated cam member, said tackle bag including means engageable by said clutch elements in a predetermined relative position of said clutch elements and said elongated member, and spring means biasing said clutch elements into gripping engagement with said last named means.

el. In combination, a support, a tackle bag, means for suspending said tackle bag from said support, said last named means comprising an elongated cam member having an outwardly flared end portion forming a cam surface, and circumferentially spaced radially movable clutch elements slidably supported on said elongated cam member, said clutch elements including portions movable radially outwardly in response to longitudinal movement of said clutch elements on said elongated cam member, said tackle bag including means engaging said clutch elements in a predetermined relative position of said clutch elements and said elongated member, and spring means biasing said clutch elements into gripping engagement with said last named means, said spring means comprising a coil spring surrounding a portion of said elongated cam member and having one end arranged in engagement with said clutch elements.

5. In combination, a support, a tackle bag, means for suspending said tackle bag from said support, said last named means comprising an elongated cam member connected to said support and having an outwardly flared end portion forming a cam surface, and circumferentially spaced radially movable clutch elements slidably supported on said elongated member, said clutch elements including portions movable radially outwardly in response to longitudinal movement of said clutch elements on said elongated cam member, said tackle bag including a socket element engaged by said clutch elements in a predetermined relative position of said clutch elements and said elongated member, and spring means biasing said clutch elements toward the outwardly flared end of said cam member and into gripping engagement with said socket element, said spring means comprising a coil spring surrounding a portion of said elongated cam member and having one end arranged in engagement with said clutch elements, and means carried by said elongated cam member for adjusting the force of said spring means.

6. A tackle bag mechanism comprising in combination, a support, a tackle bag, a tire casing having an outer circumference substantially equal to the outer circumference of the main body portion of said bag, means for attaching said tire casing to said support, and means for attaching said bag to said tire casing, said bag comprising an inturned flange portion at the upper end of said bag for engaging over said tire casing.

7. In combination, a support comprising an elongated cam member having an outwardly flared lower end portion forming a cam surface, circumferentially spaced radially movable clutch elements slidably supported on said elongated cam member, said clutch elements including portions movable radially outwardly in response to downward movement of said clutch elements On said elongated cam member, and a tackle bag assembly comprising a bag, a tire casing having an outer circumference substantially equal to the outer circumference of said bag, and means secured to said tire casing for frictionally engaging said clutch elements so as to hold said tackle bag assembly in place on said support in a given position of said clutch elements.

GRANT KING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,388,056 Hendricks Oct. 30, 1945 

